Let the the usual Arsenal critics tell it, Arsenal should be ashamed of themselves. Wenger has lost it, Arsenal look a shell of themselves, the injury list is growing every day, and the likes of Chelsea and City look miles away and are running away with the league.

Nonsense I tell you. Don’t feed into the propaganda my friends. While we all know Arsenal has been less than stellar lately, but a quick objective glance will tell you that thing aren’t always what they seem. Arsenal sit fifth in the league despite only winning three league matches and have made ground on those above. Arsenal is just three behind City and nine behind Chelsea, who both showed they are far from invincible.

This time last year it was Arsenal who led the pack by similar margins and nobody counted out Chelsea and City, so why is that things are different when the roles are reversed? Arsenal are also comfortable in the Champions League as well and all this despite having yet to reach top form. This leads me to believe that when Arsenal begin firing, we will be challenging on all fronts very soon. Here are five positives to take from the season so far.

1. one loss

It is easy to forget that Arsenal has lost just once in league play (and one in Europe but Arsenal are still comfortable in the group). For all this talk of turmoil and crisis, you would expect a side to be much worse off than Arsenal are at the moment. Only Chelsea are undefeated with mostly every other club having at least three losses. Think about it, things could be worse. We could be Liverpool. That would be real reason for alarm.

2.    spirit

For Arsenal to have endured so many injuries, as well as indifferent form and still be able to grind out results is absolutely fantastic and bodes well for the rest of the season. This trait is something Arsenal lacked in recent years, and leads me to believe that when the form returns coupled with this spirit, Arsenal will be supremely difficult to beat. Arsenal simply refuse to lose

3.   signings getting on well

I can’t remember the last time Arsenal signed multiple players and they all slotted in easily. Sanchez, Welbeck, and Chambers look like they have been at Arsenal for years as did Debuchy when he was playing and it really strengthens the side as a whole. Chambers and Welbeck of course also add to a growing English contingent so that can only be good for the growth of the squad in the long run. Arsenal’s healthy financial position and Wenger’s comments also imply that more signings will be made in January as well so I’m looking forward to seeing the squad go from strength to strength.

4. role players stepping up

Arsenal have a deep bench, with the likes of Campbell and Podolski coming on to add spice to the side. Reliable subs were not always a feature of Arsenal so I’m glad that is not the case now. Arsenal have a life line on the bench, and this just means that things are in place for Arsenal to really kick on.

5. THERE ARE 29 GAMES LEFT

The fact that Arsenal is facing this adversity so early in the season is a blessing in disguise. They have managed to still just about keep themselves in it, and still have plenty of time to improve. In some ways I would prefer this than starting well and disappointingly tailing off towards the latter stages. If this threadbare squad can grind out results now, a full strength one will have their work cut out for them, and that’s what excites me.

Click below to see Arsenal’s latest signing…